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How to Find What You're Not Looking For
New historical fiction from a Newbery Honor-winning author about how middle schooler Ariel Goldberg's life changes when her big sister elopes following the 1967 Loving v. Virginia decision, and she's forced to grapple with both her family's prejudice and the antisemitism she experiences, as she defines her own beliefs.
Twelve-year-old Ariel Goldberg's life feels like the moment after the final guest leaves the party. Her family's Jewish bakery runs into financial trouble, and her older sister has eloped with a young man from India following the Supreme Court decision that strikes down laws banning interracial marriage. As change becomes Ariel's only constant, she's left to hone something that will be with her always--her own voice.
Twelve-year-old Ariel Goldberg's life feels like the moment after the final guest leaves the party. Her family's Jewish bakery runs into financial trouble, and her older sister has eloped with a young man from India following the Supreme Court decision that strikes down laws banning interracial marriage. As change becomes Ariel's only constant, she's left to hone something that will be with her always--her own voice.
384 pages, Paperback
First published September 14, 2021
79 people are currently reading
3946 people want to read
About the author
Veera Hiranandani
22 books462 followersVeera Hiranandani is the author of THE NIGHT DIARY, THE WHOLE STORY OF HALF A GIRL, and the chapter book series, PHOEBE G. GREEN. She has an MFA in fiction writing from Sarah Lawrence College and spent six years as a book editor. She now teaches creative writing at The Writing Institute at Sarah Lawrence College and lives in New York with her family. She is working on her next novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 331 reviews
November 22, 2021
"The Night Diary" is one of my favorite books from recent years, so I was thrilled to discover Veera Hiranandani had written another middle grade book. This new title pays tribute not only to her Hindu heritage, but also her Jewish roots. The Author's notes at the end of the book are such a beautiful summary of Hiranandani's family history and how Ariel Goldberg came to life on its pages. Set in the time right after Loving v. Virginia, the book explores the after effects of marriage between a Jewish young woman and a young man who has Hindu roots. Both families struggle and Ariel especially feels bereft. The subject of dysgraphia is also explored as Ariel's teacher tries a new way to help her express herself on paper. The teacher (Mrs. Fields) is one of my favorite characters as she unlocks the inner poet in Ariel and we have the privilege of reading the poems the are written to express her feelings through the remainder of the book. As Jane, Ariel's friend reminds her-- in the words of Martin Luther King, Jr: Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that.
September 29, 2021
Ariel and Leah Goldberg are close knit sisters growing up during the 60’s in a conservative Jewish household. Their parents, Sylvia and Max are devoted to their Jewish heritage and religion. So when Leah invites her boyfriend Raj Jagwani for dinner, you can just imagine Sylvia’s and Max’s surprise and disappointment in Leah and her choice of dating a non Jew. And to top it off, her date is an Indian American.
Stunned at the revelation that her parents could be so narrow-minded, Leah decides to elope with Raj. At that time, the Supreme Court had just ruled that laws banning interracial marriages were illegal. As such, Leah commits to leaving the comfort of her home and marrying Raj. Leah does so, suddenly, leaving Ariel confused and hurt.
Ariel, eleven at the time, struggles to understand the significance of Leah’s decision and how her parents can be so blinded by their intolerance for non Jews. Coupled with a form of a learning disability, Ariel turns to poetry as a form of release and revelation. It is through poetry that Ariel learns to cope with family tensions and her own shortcomings.
Inspired by true events, the author has done an excellent job at composing a story about familial ties and how love gives one the ability to conquer hate.
The story is supported by well developed characters so raw and so real, that it feels like you are there in Ariel’s world living and learning about life, and love.
Overall, How to Find What You’re Not Looking For is a brilliant novel and a perfect Own Voices book well suited for the Young Adult and Adult readers. Five amazing stars.
I received a finished hardcover book from Kokila through the Bookish First Raffle. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
Stunned at the revelation that her parents could be so narrow-minded, Leah decides to elope with Raj. At that time, the Supreme Court had just ruled that laws banning interracial marriages were illegal. As such, Leah commits to leaving the comfort of her home and marrying Raj. Leah does so, suddenly, leaving Ariel confused and hurt.
Ariel, eleven at the time, struggles to understand the significance of Leah’s decision and how her parents can be so blinded by their intolerance for non Jews. Coupled with a form of a learning disability, Ariel turns to poetry as a form of release and revelation. It is through poetry that Ariel learns to cope with family tensions and her own shortcomings.
Inspired by true events, the author has done an excellent job at composing a story about familial ties and how love gives one the ability to conquer hate.
The story is supported by well developed characters so raw and so real, that it feels like you are there in Ariel’s world living and learning about life, and love.
Overall, How to Find What You’re Not Looking For is a brilliant novel and a perfect Own Voices book well suited for the Young Adult and Adult readers. Five amazing stars.
I received a finished hardcover book from Kokila through the Bookish First Raffle. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
September 27, 2021
CONTENT WARNING: antisemitism, racism, ableism, xenophobia
For an MG book, I felt like this dealt with a lot, but it was done really well. It was written in the second person narrative, which I’m not accustomed to, so it took me a little while to get into it. Ariel is smack dab in the center of a time of great change — political rights, the Vietnam War, and the free love movement was all going on, and is talked about in story. I can only imagine that these times would be confusing for a 12 year old, and Ariel’s story reflects that. As she tries to figure out how she feels about all these issues, a bunch of issues hit closer to home for her with the landmark decision that allows interracial marriage in the country.
“So far, nobody has done a report on anything really serious, like the Vietnam War or Dr. Martin Luther kin Jr.’s speeches. There’s been nothing about the protests and riots, nothing about San Francisco and the hippies, or about Thurgood Marshall’s Supreme Court confirmation or the Six-Day War, and nothing about Loving v. Virginia…"
Her sister takes advantage of that and marries a young Hindu man from India, sparking strife within her family. Her family cuts her sister Leah off, and Ariel is struck with the loss of her big sister, since Leah was a stabilizing influence in her life. Leah was the one who supported her, explained things to her, and often assisted her with things that her parents were too busy or unable to help with. After Leah is gone, Ariel is left with a major void in her life.
“Who else can help you figure out the world in the same way?”
On top of that, Ariel struggles with a learning disability. She has difficulty with writing, and her parents consistently tell her to “stop being lazy,” and encourage her to strengthen her hands by working with them in their bakery. The outright ableism made me uncomfortable, especially when it’s employed during a conference with her teacher, who tries to explain her learning disability (dysgraphia) and suggest some helpful techniques to assist her in school. The teacher outright compliments Ariel’s intelligence, while her parents seem to put her down in an effort to contradict the teacher. However, the learning disability is explained clearly enough to make it understandable and I thought it was ultimately dealt with positively.
“You want to know if there’s a name for what makes writing difficult.”
Prejudice is a major theme throughout the book. While Ariel and her family struggle with antisemitism in the story from a variety of sources, they are also a source of prejudice themselves. Despite being a minority, they still hold prejudicial beliefs of their own, viewing Leah’s husband as a foreigner and turn their backs on their own daughter for marrying someone of a different religion. Raj’s parents aren’t thrilled with their son marrying what they also view as a “foreigner” and someone of a different religion. Ariel voices her questions about the expectations that people place on her and others:
“But you wonder, if you were who everyone wants you to be, would it even make a difference?”
I love the fact that Hiranandani wrote this book as someone who has experienced life as someone who has grown up biracial, with a Jewish American mother and an Indian immigrant father. It lends additional context to a potentially sensitive story, and allows her to tell it in a way that resonates without being harmful to the community. I like to think that society has come a long way, but it makes me realize how little things have changed in some ways. This is an important book that has a story that benefits the reader, and the fact that this is designed for young readers is incredible.
For an MG book, I felt like this dealt with a lot, but it was done really well. It was written in the second person narrative, which I’m not accustomed to, so it took me a little while to get into it. Ariel is smack dab in the center of a time of great change — political rights, the Vietnam War, and the free love movement was all going on, and is talked about in story. I can only imagine that these times would be confusing for a 12 year old, and Ariel’s story reflects that. As she tries to figure out how she feels about all these issues, a bunch of issues hit closer to home for her with the landmark decision that allows interracial marriage in the country.
“So far, nobody has done a report on anything really serious, like the Vietnam War or Dr. Martin Luther kin Jr.’s speeches. There’s been nothing about the protests and riots, nothing about San Francisco and the hippies, or about Thurgood Marshall’s Supreme Court confirmation or the Six-Day War, and nothing about Loving v. Virginia…"
Her sister takes advantage of that and marries a young Hindu man from India, sparking strife within her family. Her family cuts her sister Leah off, and Ariel is struck with the loss of her big sister, since Leah was a stabilizing influence in her life. Leah was the one who supported her, explained things to her, and often assisted her with things that her parents were too busy or unable to help with. After Leah is gone, Ariel is left with a major void in her life.
“Who else can help you figure out the world in the same way?”
On top of that, Ariel struggles with a learning disability. She has difficulty with writing, and her parents consistently tell her to “stop being lazy,” and encourage her to strengthen her hands by working with them in their bakery. The outright ableism made me uncomfortable, especially when it’s employed during a conference with her teacher, who tries to explain her learning disability (dysgraphia) and suggest some helpful techniques to assist her in school. The teacher outright compliments Ariel’s intelligence, while her parents seem to put her down in an effort to contradict the teacher. However, the learning disability is explained clearly enough to make it understandable and I thought it was ultimately dealt with positively.
“You want to know if there’s a name for what makes writing difficult.”
Prejudice is a major theme throughout the book. While Ariel and her family struggle with antisemitism in the story from a variety of sources, they are also a source of prejudice themselves. Despite being a minority, they still hold prejudicial beliefs of their own, viewing Leah’s husband as a foreigner and turn their backs on their own daughter for marrying someone of a different religion. Raj’s parents aren’t thrilled with their son marrying what they also view as a “foreigner” and someone of a different religion. Ariel voices her questions about the expectations that people place on her and others:
“But you wonder, if you were who everyone wants you to be, would it even make a difference?”
I love the fact that Hiranandani wrote this book as someone who has experienced life as someone who has grown up biracial, with a Jewish American mother and an Indian immigrant father. It lends additional context to a potentially sensitive story, and allows her to tell it in a way that resonates without being harmful to the community. I like to think that society has come a long way, but it makes me realize how little things have changed in some ways. This is an important book that has a story that benefits the reader, and the fact that this is designed for young readers is incredible.
November 2, 2024
3.5^ I liked many things about this book a lot—interesting historical placement, interesting family dynamics, curious use of the second person—but I do desperately wish that middle grade could be weird and uncomfortable and equal to the wildness of children again. I feel like every mg book I’ve read in the last 5-6 years has been carefully calibrated against the same beats of “child with easily sympathized with pathos and struggle overcomes 80% of the struggle and also learns an important lesson about how everyone is a person and also Finds Their Voice”. It makes even generally well written books feel didactic and stale; the particular struggles and lessons of each book are different but they’re all stretched over the same skeleton. I know Hiranandani is capable of other skeletons and very good work so it’s frustrating to read a book with lots of important ideas from an author who has written splendidly unique historical fiction in the past to be fitting her ideas to the same old bones as everyone else. Everybody please stop writing lesson plans when you’re trying to write books.
January 4, 2022
WOW. This book I did not want to end. It instantly hooked me on the first page with the 'You' point of view. I loved the poems, the kind teacher, the concerned parents, and passionate Leah and Raj. I find myself thinking of Ari and her strength. This is a book that is powerful, and shines a light on interfaith and different race marriage and the history and struggles of it. I loved how Ari talks about the Loving vs Virginia case, how she finds her voice, and so so much more. I also loved the bakery and the parents toiling away. Reading this book, you feel like you are truly Ari watching Leah get dressed and live her life, and are stuck in the painful stage of growing up and trying to catch up to your big sister. I wish this book was a movie!
Also, I loved the clever headings. As an author, there is so much to admire in this story. It's beautifully crafted and so neatly done.
My mom read the book too and LOVED it. I knew she would!
I am truly sad this story is over and wish there were so many more of these books. I loved Veera's THE NIGHT DIARY too. I also admire how different this book was from that one and how much talent this author has.
Also, I loved the clever headings. As an author, there is so much to admire in this story. It's beautifully crafted and so neatly done.
My mom read the book too and LOVED it. I knew she would!
I am truly sad this story is over and wish there were so many more of these books. I loved Veera's THE NIGHT DIARY too. I also admire how different this book was from that one and how much talent this author has.
September 20, 2021
I enjoyed this book, but I felt like for a middle grade novel it had a lot to unpack. The writing style was engaging although a few places were a little repetitive. I loved the characters and the tie-in with relevant historical events. The main character Ariel is trying to deal with school with an undiagnosed learning disability and with the aftermath of her older sister running away after their parents refused to let her be with the person she loved. Ariel’s parents were not pleased that Leah fell in loved with an Indian man who is in Hindu instead of a Jewish man. This is following the Loving vs. Virginia Supreme Court ruling. Ariel doesn’t understand why her parents would cut Leah out of their lives and she especially doesn’t understand why Leah would leave her behind without a word like she did. The story is heartfelt and truly a pleasure to read.
September 5, 2022
It's June 1967, and 11-year-old Ariel "Ari" Goldberg has just learned that her sister Leah, 18, is in love. The only problem is that the Goldbergs are Jewish and want nothing more than for Leah to find a nice Jewish boy to marry. Instead, the boy Leah is in love with is Raj Jagwani, a Hindu from Bombay (now Mumbai), India, but an American citizen and a graduate student at NYU. And so Ari and Leah spend the summer meeting Raj on the sly.
But when school begins in September, everything changes. Leah has been forbidden to see Raj, and at school, Ari is sure she will face another year of struggling to write clearly until she is put into a class for kids who need more help. In the past, Leah had always helped her with her schoolwork, but now she's unhappy and too preoccupied with Raj. After Leah and Raj elope and just disappear, Ari is left to cope with school on her own. Then she discovers that her parent's bakery, Gertie's, is in financial trouble and may have to be sold. At school, Ari has always been tormented by an anti-Semitic bully, but luckily has always had her best friend Jane until they have a falling out.
Ari has also been waiting for her new teacher, Miss Field, to finally recommend she be put into the slow class, but at a conference with Ari and her mother, she tells them she suspects that Ari has dysgraphia, a learning disability in which a person can't write coherently. Mrs. Goldberg is convinced Ari's inability to write is just laziness and requires more practice. But Miss Fields encourages Ari to write poetry, something she finds is an easy way to express how she feels, on the classroom's electric typewriter.
When Ari's class is assigned a special current events project to present, Ari decides to do the Loving vs. Virginia case, something she learned about from Leah and a way to keep her connection to her beloved sister. Yet, unable to understand why she hasn't heard from Leah, Ari and Jane, who loves Nancy Drew mystery novels, decide to solve the mystery of where Leah has disappeared to.
This is indeed a novel about searching for something. If it seems that there is a lot going on in Ari's life in this novel, and that Hiranandani throws a lot of things at her - the Loving case, the Vietnam War, racism, anti-Semitism, and learning disabilities - it is also a thoughtful exploration of Ariel's search to find her own voice and place in her world, and it is also wonderful to watch how Ari grows and changes as events unfold. Written in the second person singular, it was a little odd at first to be reading historical fiction in the present tense, but it also brought the story closer, doing away with historical distancing. After all, some of the events and attitudes in this novel are still with us today.
I think the fact that Hiranandani is biracial, with a Jewish American mother and an Indian father, made this novel feel more relevant and important because she was speaking from experience. She handles Ari's story with sensitivity, humor, and honestly. One of the things I really found interesting were the chapter headings, which all began with How to... It was like a little preview of what was coming without giving anything away.
How to Find What You're Not Looking For is a wonderful heartfelt, character driven novel and if you think the ending is too pat, well, sometimes that's just what is needed.
But when school begins in September, everything changes. Leah has been forbidden to see Raj, and at school, Ari is sure she will face another year of struggling to write clearly until she is put into a class for kids who need more help. In the past, Leah had always helped her with her schoolwork, but now she's unhappy and too preoccupied with Raj. After Leah and Raj elope and just disappear, Ari is left to cope with school on her own. Then she discovers that her parent's bakery, Gertie's, is in financial trouble and may have to be sold. At school, Ari has always been tormented by an anti-Semitic bully, but luckily has always had her best friend Jane until they have a falling out.
Ari has also been waiting for her new teacher, Miss Field, to finally recommend she be put into the slow class, but at a conference with Ari and her mother, she tells them she suspects that Ari has dysgraphia, a learning disability in which a person can't write coherently. Mrs. Goldberg is convinced Ari's inability to write is just laziness and requires more practice. But Miss Fields encourages Ari to write poetry, something she finds is an easy way to express how she feels, on the classroom's electric typewriter.
When Ari's class is assigned a special current events project to present, Ari decides to do the Loving vs. Virginia case, something she learned about from Leah and a way to keep her connection to her beloved sister. Yet, unable to understand why she hasn't heard from Leah, Ari and Jane, who loves Nancy Drew mystery novels, decide to solve the mystery of where Leah has disappeared to.
This is indeed a novel about searching for something. If it seems that there is a lot going on in Ari's life in this novel, and that Hiranandani throws a lot of things at her - the Loving case, the Vietnam War, racism, anti-Semitism, and learning disabilities - it is also a thoughtful exploration of Ariel's search to find her own voice and place in her world, and it is also wonderful to watch how Ari grows and changes as events unfold. Written in the second person singular, it was a little odd at first to be reading historical fiction in the present tense, but it also brought the story closer, doing away with historical distancing. After all, some of the events and attitudes in this novel are still with us today.
I think the fact that Hiranandani is biracial, with a Jewish American mother and an Indian father, made this novel feel more relevant and important because she was speaking from experience. She handles Ari's story with sensitivity, humor, and honestly. One of the things I really found interesting were the chapter headings, which all began with How to... It was like a little preview of what was coming without giving anything away.
How to Find What You're Not Looking For is a wonderful heartfelt, character driven novel and if you think the ending is too pat, well, sometimes that's just what is needed.
September 28, 2021
How to Find What You’re Not Looking For is a poignant, moving, and brilliantly written middle grade novel about family, identity, and love. Set against the background of the 1968 Loving vs. Virginia verdict and written from a second-person point of view, this book follows an insightful young Jewish protagonist confronting the world’s harsh realities and inequities. This one is a real treat for tween and adult readers.
Read my full review on my blog.
Many thanks to the publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Read my full review on my blog.
Many thanks to the publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 1, 2022
(VIA AUDIOBOOK) This was a cute middle grade read. I can't wait for my son to grow up and start reading books like this. This follows a little girl named Ariel Goldberg and her family and how it going through changes when her sister elopes right after Loving v. Virginia decision. We follow her through Ariel finding her way and making decision on how she feels with her sister leaving, with her parents prejudice and antisemitism she experiences. This is a fast read!( Audio book while reading this was really good as well. This is really a inspiring, emotional ride and has such a great message, that I really hope everyone who reads this gets. I mean for Ariel to go through all that she has to and on top of that to still have normal struggles of a Twelve year old girl. Such as school struggles and growing up and feeling like you don't have a voice and that you are the problem all the time. truly recommend this.
November 21, 2023
This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction
This book takes us back to the turmoil of the 1960's. When Ariel's older sister runs off to marry an Indian immigrant it tears her family and her world apart. Her parents refuse to speak to her sister---they always imagined their daughter would marry a Jewish boy and carry on their family's rich and hard-earned history. The story takes places just after the Loving vs. Virginia decision and during the Civil Rights movement and the conflict over the Vietnam War. Ariel is just starting to understand the injustices of the world and form her own opinions as she sees the conflicting views of people around her. Ariel is also dealing with dysgraphia and the repercussions of that and she experiences anti-Semitism as well. It's a lot for one girl to deal with! But as her life is spiraling out of control, she is determined to at least set things right with her sister, a task that may be out of her own control. The story is told in second person, a POV you don't read very often, but I thought it worked well for this story. I loved that the title and chapter titles give the feel of a self-help instructional manual as Ariel navigates her new reality.
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley for review purposes. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
This book takes us back to the turmoil of the 1960's. When Ariel's older sister runs off to marry an Indian immigrant it tears her family and her world apart. Her parents refuse to speak to her sister---they always imagined their daughter would marry a Jewish boy and carry on their family's rich and hard-earned history. The story takes places just after the Loving vs. Virginia decision and during the Civil Rights movement and the conflict over the Vietnam War. Ariel is just starting to understand the injustices of the world and form her own opinions as she sees the conflicting views of people around her. Ariel is also dealing with dysgraphia and the repercussions of that and she experiences anti-Semitism as well. It's a lot for one girl to deal with! But as her life is spiraling out of control, she is determined to at least set things right with her sister, a task that may be out of her own control. The story is told in second person, a POV you don't read very often, but I thought it worked well for this story. I loved that the title and chapter titles give the feel of a self-help instructional manual as Ariel navigates her new reality.
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley for review purposes. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
July 30, 2021
Told in 2nd person through Ariel’s eyes, this historical fiction story will be a great addition to #middlegrade classroom libraries.
Set right after Loving vs Virginia which overturned the law banning interracial marriages. When Ariel’s older sister Leah elopes with Raj - who is not Jewish (Ariel and Leah are Jewish) and comes from India, their parents disown her. Ariel tries to find Leah while also struggling at school, standing up to a bully, and trying to figure out why her parents won’t accept Leah and her husband.
I loved how Ariel found free verse poetry as a way to express herself after struggling with dysgraphia.
Thank you @penguinrandomhouse for an #advancedreaderscopy 📖 OUT IN SEPTEMBER!
Set right after Loving vs Virginia which overturned the law banning interracial marriages. When Ariel’s older sister Leah elopes with Raj - who is not Jewish (Ariel and Leah are Jewish) and comes from India, their parents disown her. Ariel tries to find Leah while also struggling at school, standing up to a bully, and trying to figure out why her parents won’t accept Leah and her husband.
I loved how Ariel found free verse poetry as a way to express herself after struggling with dysgraphia.
Thank you @penguinrandomhouse for an #advancedreaderscopy 📖 OUT IN SEPTEMBER!
February 16, 2022
Historical fiction, 2nd person POV, Cultural differences, race and religion, 1960s, sister relationships
The second person POV was extremely distracting for me, and I couldn't finish after making it about 2/3 through. An interesting time period for young readers (1960s) during the Loving vs. Virginia ruling making interracial marriage legal, but I couldn't get past the weird tense choice.
The second person POV was extremely distracting for me, and I couldn't finish after making it about 2/3 through. An interesting time period for young readers (1960s) during the Loving vs. Virginia ruling making interracial marriage legal, but I couldn't get past the weird tense choice.
January 10, 2022
In How to Find What You’re Not Looking For, Veera Hiranandani takes us back to the summer of 1967, focusing on the issues of inter-racial marriage and antisemitism (drawn from her own family history), as well as historical events - Civil Rights protests, objections to the Viet Nam War, and the Supreme Court’s decision in Loving vs. Virginia.
To 11-year old Ariel Goldberg, history pales in comparison to the rift that is happening within her own family. Ariel’s older sister Leah, the shining star of the family, has fallen in love with Raj, an Indian American college student, which is devastating to Ariel’s Jewish parents on many levels. Leah and Raj elope and disappear, leaving Ariel heartbroken that her sister has abandoned her without a word. In school, Ariel struggles with undiagnosed dysgraphia, and is disheartened by her mother’s admonishments to try harder and don’t be lazy. Ari finds an ally in her young progressive teacher, Miss Field, who recognizes Ari’s flair for poetry and encourages her to continue writing with the help of an IBM selectric. Ari’s poems become her escape when the worries of her world – her parents having to sell the family bakery and being bullied by an angry classmate - become too much for her.
Unlike other “problem novels” in which the characters’ journeys are conveyed through first or third person, Hiranandani elevates the level of the reader’s experience through the use of second person present. This tense, which is commonly used for choose-your-own-adventure stories, places the reader in the story, asking what would you say to the bully? How would you try to find your sister, compelling the reader to truly understand what Ari is experiencing.
And lest the reader feel too anxious being the caretaker of these problems, solutions are implied through the chapter titles: “How to Keep a Secret,” “How to Write a Poem,” “How to Make Stuff Up.”
Ari’s earnest approach and a bit of magical thinking (She addresses a letter to her sister Leah Goldberg Jagwani, New York, New York) add a light-heartedness to the story, even as Ari struggles with the hypocrisy of her parent’s beliefs, discovers that she has been lied to by people she trusts, and ponders the question: What would it take to make someone better than who they are.
The characters are complex and well-drawn. Ari introduces herself through a list of her flaws, and although we come to learn she is more than her worst beliefs about herself, readers will be relieved that they do not have to be perfect to put themselves in Ari’s shoes. Miss Fields, as lovely as she is, admits to Ari that she was wrong to not take Chris’s anti-semitism seriously. Even Chris, the bully, has a backstory – he is worried about his brother who is fighting in Vietnam.
The social unrest of the late 60’s weaves through the story organically; Ari learns about the Loving vs. Virginia decision through Leah and Raj’s relationship,, and she writes a report about the case. On the night that Martin Luther King, Jr. is shot, Ari’s family must get to the hospital and their route may be shut down by protests. Of course, Beatle love is represented (Ari’s friend kisses Paul on the album cover) and the forbidden (to an 11-year-old) allure of the Doors is captured in the line: the lead singer, Jim Morrison, sounded like he was telling you secrets you weren’t supposed to hear.
Through her simple poems, rich with metaphors, we follow Ari’s transformation. In her early poems – “The Rules,” “Ways of the World,” and “What Would Elizabeth Taylor Do?” – she is seeking answers about the world and her place in it in , while in later lines, she offers grace to her sister, mother, and father through her poetry.
The Ari that composes the prize-winning “A Poem for Baby Geeta” (which made me cry) is not the same girl who wrote the first chapter on How to Be Lazy. This new Auntie Ari can easily type out the instructions for the final chapter “How to Be A Mensch. “
To 11-year old Ariel Goldberg, history pales in comparison to the rift that is happening within her own family. Ariel’s older sister Leah, the shining star of the family, has fallen in love with Raj, an Indian American college student, which is devastating to Ariel’s Jewish parents on many levels. Leah and Raj elope and disappear, leaving Ariel heartbroken that her sister has abandoned her without a word. In school, Ariel struggles with undiagnosed dysgraphia, and is disheartened by her mother’s admonishments to try harder and don’t be lazy. Ari finds an ally in her young progressive teacher, Miss Field, who recognizes Ari’s flair for poetry and encourages her to continue writing with the help of an IBM selectric. Ari’s poems become her escape when the worries of her world – her parents having to sell the family bakery and being bullied by an angry classmate - become too much for her.
Unlike other “problem novels” in which the characters’ journeys are conveyed through first or third person, Hiranandani elevates the level of the reader’s experience through the use of second person present. This tense, which is commonly used for choose-your-own-adventure stories, places the reader in the story, asking what would you say to the bully? How would you try to find your sister, compelling the reader to truly understand what Ari is experiencing.
And lest the reader feel too anxious being the caretaker of these problems, solutions are implied through the chapter titles: “How to Keep a Secret,” “How to Write a Poem,” “How to Make Stuff Up.”
Ari’s earnest approach and a bit of magical thinking (She addresses a letter to her sister Leah Goldberg Jagwani, New York, New York) add a light-heartedness to the story, even as Ari struggles with the hypocrisy of her parent’s beliefs, discovers that she has been lied to by people she trusts, and ponders the question: What would it take to make someone better than who they are.
The characters are complex and well-drawn. Ari introduces herself through a list of her flaws, and although we come to learn she is more than her worst beliefs about herself, readers will be relieved that they do not have to be perfect to put themselves in Ari’s shoes. Miss Fields, as lovely as she is, admits to Ari that she was wrong to not take Chris’s anti-semitism seriously. Even Chris, the bully, has a backstory – he is worried about his brother who is fighting in Vietnam.
The social unrest of the late 60’s weaves through the story organically; Ari learns about the Loving vs. Virginia decision through Leah and Raj’s relationship,, and she writes a report about the case. On the night that Martin Luther King, Jr. is shot, Ari’s family must get to the hospital and their route may be shut down by protests. Of course, Beatle love is represented (Ari’s friend kisses Paul on the album cover) and the forbidden (to an 11-year-old) allure of the Doors is captured in the line: the lead singer, Jim Morrison, sounded like he was telling you secrets you weren’t supposed to hear.
Through her simple poems, rich with metaphors, we follow Ari’s transformation. In her early poems – “The Rules,” “Ways of the World,” and “What Would Elizabeth Taylor Do?” – she is seeking answers about the world and her place in it in , while in later lines, she offers grace to her sister, mother, and father through her poetry.
The Ari that composes the prize-winning “A Poem for Baby Geeta” (which made me cry) is not the same girl who wrote the first chapter on How to Be Lazy. This new Auntie Ari can easily type out the instructions for the final chapter “How to Be A Mensch. “
October 4, 2021
i didn't know what to expect when I first started this one. Probably because i was still getting used to it being written in second person. i really liked the fact that the author put us in Ariel's shoes, while also it was still Ariel's point of view (if that makes sense). I learned so much from this book. it wasn't what I expected it to be, to be honest, it shocked me in a good way. i also loved the historical events included in this story (Martin Luther King's protests, the Loving v Virginia case, etc). this whole book was a joy to read and I loved every part.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 24, 2022
Really interesting! Historical fiction during the time of the Loving vs Virginia ruling. Follows young Jewish woman whose sister falls in love with a South Asian man and how that and other events effect her family life. Issues about learning disabilities, antisemitism, racism, Vietnam.
Written by a woman who is herself of South Asian and Ashkenazi Jewish descent. This is the author who wrote the incredible book, "The Night Diary." That book was an epistolary novel, and this one is written in second person. Recommended!!!
Written by a woman who is herself of South Asian and Ashkenazi Jewish descent. This is the author who wrote the incredible book, "The Night Diary." That book was an epistolary novel, and this one is written in second person. Recommended!!!
July 24, 2022
Poignant and impactful, I feel so seen by this book, even if, at a glance I share very few of Ariel's identities. RTC.
September 30, 2021
4.5 stars 👏
August 5, 2021
Overall, this is a good book. This is a historical fiction set in the 1960s written in second person. I think the book does a great time of covering important things in a way that is interesting and understandable for children. It did feel at times parts were repetitive or not flushed out enough but overall a great read.
September 25, 2023
Ariel and Leah Goldberg are close knit sisters growing up during the 60’s in a conservative Jewish household. Their parents, Sylvia and Max are devoted to their Jewish heritage and religion. So when Leah invites her boyfriend Raj Jagwani for dinner, you can just imagine Sylvia’s and Max’s surprise and disappointment in Leah and her choice of dating a non Jew. And to top it off, her date is an Indian American.
But at this time, the Supreme Court just ruled that laws banning interracial marriages were illegal so no one should have been surprised when Leah leaves one day to elope to Raj. The problem is that her little sister Ariel is left behind to try and understand everything that follows. Why would Leah leave her without warning? Why are her parents so upset? Add this to dealing with a learning disability and having a new teacher who actually is trying to help, Ariel is overwhelmed trying to figure it all out. She turns to poetry as a form of release and it is through poetry that Ariel begins to cope with everything around her.
Inspired by true events, Veera Hiranandani does such a phenomenal job bringing up such important issues and times in our history in a way that is relatable to any middle grade readers. This book brings up antisemitism, racism, abelism, political rights, the Vietnam War, the Loving vs. Virginia case, and everything else happening around that time. These can be tough topics but having this story told from a 12 year old perspective makes it much more readable. It was very hard to put this book down!
I also really enjoyed that it was almost told in a 2nd person format because although we were getting the story from Ariel's perspective, it came through "you" instead of "I." Very different but very unique! I really loved all the Jewish elements mixed in; it brought me back to my childhood.
I am so glad that a story like this was told and I will definitely be recommending it to all of my students!
But at this time, the Supreme Court just ruled that laws banning interracial marriages were illegal so no one should have been surprised when Leah leaves one day to elope to Raj. The problem is that her little sister Ariel is left behind to try and understand everything that follows. Why would Leah leave her without warning? Why are her parents so upset? Add this to dealing with a learning disability and having a new teacher who actually is trying to help, Ariel is overwhelmed trying to figure it all out. She turns to poetry as a form of release and it is through poetry that Ariel begins to cope with everything around her.
Inspired by true events, Veera Hiranandani does such a phenomenal job bringing up such important issues and times in our history in a way that is relatable to any middle grade readers. This book brings up antisemitism, racism, abelism, political rights, the Vietnam War, the Loving vs. Virginia case, and everything else happening around that time. These can be tough topics but having this story told from a 12 year old perspective makes it much more readable. It was very hard to put this book down!
I also really enjoyed that it was almost told in a 2nd person format because although we were getting the story from Ariel's perspective, it came through "you" instead of "I." Very different but very unique! I really loved all the Jewish elements mixed in; it brought me back to my childhood.
I am so glad that a story like this was told and I will definitely be recommending it to all of my students!
December 2, 2024
Is love stronger than racism? This is the story of Ari a young Jewish girl during the late sixties in the height of Martin Luther King. Ari faces many difficulties from her sister Leah falling in love with Raj an Indian man, realizing the family bakery may be sold and they'd have to move, finding out she has a learning disability, and dealing with a racist bully in her class. Ari struggles to understand why her parents won't accept Raj and Leah's relationship. They ended up eloping and moved to New York. Her parents refuse to talk with her about why they disapprove and later she finds out her mom kept the letters Leah sent for her. Ari found letters from Leah in her mom's stuff, and this was the only information she got about her sister. She felt like Leah didn't love her anymore and moved on with her life forgetting all about her. She struggles with this though most of the book. Ari has a new teacher Miss Field who has everyone write a poem on their first day of class. This gives Ari an outlet to work out all her emotions and struggles. Miss Field wants to help Ari because she sees her struggling with her handwriting. When her mom refuses Miss Field gets a typewriter for the classroom and allows Ari to use it during lunch. This helps Ari with her poems because she no longer has to concentrate on her penmanship as she types. Ari writes poems about everything. One day when snooping in her mom's purse for Leah latest letter she found the paperwork to sell the family bakery. Ari is devastated! The bakery is where all her memories are working with her family. Now she is finding out not only are they selling the bakery, but they are moving too. Ari is convinced she needs to find her sister in New York, tell her what's going on and everything can be fixed. Ari and her best friend Jane go on an adventure alone to find her sister. They made it to New York but couldn't find Raj or Leah. On their way back to the train station Leah saw the girls and took them to her apartment. Both Ari and Jane's parents were livid the girls lied and went to NY alone. Leah and Raj brought the girls home safely and in this reunion Leah and her parents finally take the steps to make things right. So much is going on in Ari's life from seeing the prejudice of her parents towards Raj, others around her and their prejudice against Raj and Leah and one of her classmate's (Chris) prejudice against her. Chris would make ugly comments about her being a Jew or push her out of his way. When Ari retaliated or bought it up to the teacher it wasn't taken seriously and Chris would lie about the whole thing blaming her, until she stood up for herself and told the principal. Ari learned how love can change things, not hate. In the end they didn't sell the bakery and moved into the apartment above the bakery. Raj helps in the bakery between his classes at NYU. Raj, Leah and their daughter moved closer to family so they can help with the baby as Raj continues classes and Leah could start taking classes. The major themes of this book are love and family. For Ari parent's family and culture was the most important. Leah with the help of Ari showed their parents love can be stronger than prejudice and with the support of family they can be stronger. The main genre of this book is historical fiction in children's literature. Through reading this book children can see the struggles Ari faced and how she overcame them. Seeing that many people face challenges and prejudice this book becomes a window and a mirror for many children. This was a WOW book for me because I loved the storyline seeing how Ari faced each challenge and seeing it through a 12-year old's eye was quite interesting. As an adult reading this book I enjoyed seeing the innocence of her perspective. We see things in such black and white that we should look at the world through a child's eyes to see things better.
Two literary devices and writing craft the author used are onomatopoeia and imagery. Onomatopoeia was used often as Ari helped in the bakery describing what she is doing. The imagery was very well done in this book. The mother was described as she baked or cooked, I could easily envision each scene. The girls in their room listening to music, talking, getting ready for dance or school. The whole story was described so well it was like the reader was transported to that time watching through a window. I would consider this an anti-biased book because of the positive portrayals of the Jewish culture and accepting/including Hinu cultures towards the end of the book.
Two literary devices and writing craft the author used are onomatopoeia and imagery. Onomatopoeia was used often as Ari helped in the bakery describing what she is doing. The imagery was very well done in this book. The mother was described as she baked or cooked, I could easily envision each scene. The girls in their room listening to music, talking, getting ready for dance or school. The whole story was described so well it was like the reader was transported to that time watching through a window. I would consider this an anti-biased book because of the positive portrayals of the Jewish culture and accepting/including Hinu cultures towards the end of the book.
September 14, 2025
This middle grade novel by Veera Hiranandani is probably one of the most outstanding books I have read all year. It is set in 1967 just after the landmark Supreme Court decision Loving v Virginia. The story features a twelve-year-old Jewish girl whose big sister elopes with a grad student who immigrated from India. The protagonist tries to put her family back together again even as she struggles with dysgraphia and antisemitic prejudice. The author draws from her own family’s experiences, as her parents got married under similar circumstances. Hiranandani’s portrayal of each character is compassionate and complex, so we see those who make hurtful decisions not just as stereotyped caricatures.
Like with many middle grade novels, there is a tendency to overly neat plots devices, and given the attention to complexity of characterization, there probably had to be some shortcuts to keep within the length limits. But without getting too spoilery, the plot resolution is facilitated by a chance encounter whose unlikeliness contrasts with the rest of the otherwise believable book.
I’m not sure what the purpose of the second person narration was, if it is a technique that makes the narrator more relatable to young readers. For me, it created a constant friction, perhaps even a distancing of the narrator from herself, as I listened to the audiobook. I’m not sure if it detracted from the reading experience.
Overall, this was a powerfully written book that balanced difficult issues with thoughtful characterization, against the backdrop of the Civil Rights and anti-war movements. Highly recommended.
Like with many middle grade novels, there is a tendency to overly neat plots devices, and given the attention to complexity of characterization, there probably had to be some shortcuts to keep within the length limits. But without getting too spoilery, the plot resolution is facilitated by a chance encounter whose unlikeliness contrasts with the rest of the otherwise believable book.
I’m not sure what the purpose of the second person narration was, if it is a technique that makes the narrator more relatable to young readers. For me, it created a constant friction, perhaps even a distancing of the narrator from herself, as I listened to the audiobook. I’m not sure if it detracted from the reading experience.
Overall, this was a powerfully written book that balanced difficult issues with thoughtful characterization, against the backdrop of the Civil Rights and anti-war movements. Highly recommended.
July 15, 2021
It took me a while to get used to the 2nd person narrative voice -- I admit I find it a bit intrusive and distracting, but after while I just got used to the rhythm of it, and I think it works. I LOVED Ari's poetry, I loved how her teacher found ways to help her with dysgraphia, I loved the ongoing conversation about interracial marriage and how strongly the setting (just after the Loving v. Virginia decision) supported Leah and Raj's story.
It's kind of fascinating to imagine being young in a time when Hippies were this new unknown and dangerous countercultural movement, when the Civil Rights marches were on the news, and the Beatles and Elvis were big -- it's not that long ago, but somehow this book brings it home to me in a really big way. Ariel is going through a lot, but she brings her family to a better place.
I was surprised that one of the solutions in the end is that the family moves into an apartment over the bakery -- why did they never consider that before? Maybe it was a size thing? Was that apartment always there? If so, wouldn't that have been the obvious solution all along, to live in an apartment you own rather than rent? Anyway, that's a nitpicky sort of confusion when really I enjoyed the book very much. It's a powerful story about finding your voice.
Advanced reader's copy provided by Edelweiss.
It's kind of fascinating to imagine being young in a time when Hippies were this new unknown and dangerous countercultural movement, when the Civil Rights marches were on the news, and the Beatles and Elvis were big -- it's not that long ago, but somehow this book brings it home to me in a really big way. Ariel is going through a lot, but she brings her family to a better place.
I was surprised that one of the solutions in the end is that the family moves into an apartment over the bakery -- why did they never consider that before? Maybe it was a size thing? Was that apartment always there? If so, wouldn't that have been the obvious solution all along, to live in an apartment you own rather than rent? Anyway, that's a nitpicky sort of confusion when really I enjoyed the book very much. It's a powerful story about finding your voice.
Advanced reader's copy provided by Edelweiss.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2022
This book takes place in the 1960's right after Loving v. Virginia, the case that made interracial marriages legal. Ariel Goldberg is a 12 year old Jewish girl, whose sister, Leah has fallen in love with Raj Jagwani, an Indian American (Hindu) boy. Ariel's parents are very set in their ways and they expect their daughter to date and marry a Jewish man.
Leah runs away and elopes with Raj. She leaves Ariel to deal with the after effects of this decision. Ariel's parents have disowned Leah and will not speak to her - even though Leah tries to remain in contact with them. Ariel struggles to understand how her parents can treat their daughter this way.
This book explores prejudice and how it can tear a family apart. But it also a book about love and the strong ties of family. I thought this book was very well written and overall a really good story. Even though the story takes place in the 1960's, I think it is relatable to kids today. Unfortunately prejudice is still prevalent in this country and this book does a wonderful job of describing it's effects on a family. I really enjoyed this one and I loved reading the author's note and discovering that it is based on true events in the author's life.
Leah runs away and elopes with Raj. She leaves Ariel to deal with the after effects of this decision. Ariel's parents have disowned Leah and will not speak to her - even though Leah tries to remain in contact with them. Ariel struggles to understand how her parents can treat their daughter this way.
This book explores prejudice and how it can tear a family apart. But it also a book about love and the strong ties of family. I thought this book was very well written and overall a really good story. Even though the story takes place in the 1960's, I think it is relatable to kids today. Unfortunately prejudice is still prevalent in this country and this book does a wonderful job of describing it's effects on a family. I really enjoyed this one and I loved reading the author's note and discovering that it is based on true events in the author's life.
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October 25, 2021How to Find What You're Not Looking For is a great middle grade historical fiction set in the late 1960s. Twelve-year-old Ariel is faced with many challenges; among them, a severed relationship with her sister, antisemitism, and an undiagnosed learning disorder.
Ariel's sister, a white Jewish girl, marries her Indian boyfriend (who is not Jewish), leading to overt prejudice from Ariel's parents and Ariel essentially cut off from a relationship with her sister. The author deftly incorporates the Loving v. Virginia decision, providing a historical backdrop to the plot. At the same time, Ariel is confronted with anti-Semitic remarks from a classmate.
School is difficult for Ariel in that she struggles to form letters/write while also thinking about the words she intends to write down. Poetry becomes one way in which she can better harness her thoughts; poems distilling her complicated feelings feature throughout and give an additional layer to the novel.
I found this to be a really lovely story of a young girl finding her voice and agency. And the author's note was a beautiful addition.
Thank you to Penguin Teen and BookishFirst for a free copy of this title.
Ariel's sister, a white Jewish girl, marries her Indian boyfriend (who is not Jewish), leading to overt prejudice from Ariel's parents and Ariel essentially cut off from a relationship with her sister. The author deftly incorporates the Loving v. Virginia decision, providing a historical backdrop to the plot. At the same time, Ariel is confronted with anti-Semitic remarks from a classmate.
School is difficult for Ariel in that she struggles to form letters/write while also thinking about the words she intends to write down. Poetry becomes one way in which she can better harness her thoughts; poems distilling her complicated feelings feature throughout and give an additional layer to the novel.
I found this to be a really lovely story of a young girl finding her voice and agency. And the author's note was a beautiful addition.
Thank you to Penguin Teen and BookishFirst for a free copy of this title.
March 4, 2022
This was an interesting look at a family that has two daughters, with the younger narrating this. The girl, Ariel, does poorly in school, has low self esteem as a result and idolizes her older sister. Her older sister falls for an Indian immigrant boy and both families are dismayed. Ariel's family is Jewish and it is good to see a point not often made: that minority families can feel just as much prejudice and anyone else. And that the prejudice is just as hurtful for the families as for the children.Ariel also runs up against an AntiSemitic boy in her class. She has dysgraphia and her teacher runs into trouble when she tries to solve Ariel's problem by bringing in an electric typewriter for her to use. I wasn't so clear what the issue was but it seemed mostly to be a mechanism to make the school aware of the antiSemitic boy. I also wished there had been a clearer definition of dysgraphia. Ariel discovers she has a knack for poetry once people stop focusing on her dysgraphia. Recommended for any child with this issue, Jewish families dealing with intermarriage, Indian families dealing with same, etc.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 16, 2023
This book was incredibly difficult for me to get into because of the second person narration (and for whatever reason, it was very hard for me to connect with Ariel, I felt so distant from her, partly because I'm just not used to this perspective I guess? Outside of a choose-your-own adventure novel!).
I'm glad I stuck with it because this book was really incredible! I actually liked how the racism of Ariel's parents and Raj's parents intersected (strange way to find common ground!) and I think there was a very gentle handling of "we want you to live our ideal life" in a way that confronted it's ugliness while still keeping the parents true as flawed human beings struggling with being okay with reality not matching their dreams. "Being okay with reality not matching dreams" is a great way to sum up the book, because each character really does struggle with perceptions and hopes and dreams, but eventually everything works out, just not in the ideal way that was thought to hold the 'line in the sand' for what achieving a dream meant.
I really loved it, and I'm so happy I got around to reading it!
I'm glad I stuck with it because this book was really incredible! I actually liked how the racism of Ariel's parents and Raj's parents intersected (strange way to find common ground!) and I think there was a very gentle handling of "we want you to live our ideal life" in a way that confronted it's ugliness while still keeping the parents true as flawed human beings struggling with being okay with reality not matching their dreams. "Being okay with reality not matching dreams" is a great way to sum up the book, because each character really does struggle with perceptions and hopes and dreams, but eventually everything works out, just not in the ideal way that was thought to hold the 'line in the sand' for what achieving a dream meant.
I really loved it, and I'm so happy I got around to reading it!
January 25, 2023
Just finished this multiple award winning intermediate level novel that takes place in the time of my childhood—the year is 1967, the same year the Supreme Court passed Loving vs. Virginia, the case which legalized interracial marriage. The story revolves around twelve-year-old Ariel who is caught in the middle between her Jewish family and an Indian family when her big sister elopes with an Indian American college student. Not only does she attempt to negotiate her family’s conflict, she also suffers bullying in her school where she is the only Jew, and her teacher has identified that she has learning challenges. It is through writing poetry that Ariel begins to find her voice. Ariel will inspire students to do the same! ;)
NOTE TO TEACHERS AND SCHOOL LIBRARIANS: Though it is written for readers 10-14, this novel would work really well with older students needing intervention in writing and/or reading as the themes of identity, bullying, learning difficulties are relevant to students today.
Also, this is the first novel I have read that is written in second person, but it made sense with the chapter titles each starting with “How to…”. I quickly fell into step with this choice of point of view and found that it worked well.
NOTE TO TEACHERS AND SCHOOL LIBRARIANS: Though it is written for readers 10-14, this novel would work really well with older students needing intervention in writing and/or reading as the themes of identity, bullying, learning difficulties are relevant to students today.
Also, this is the first novel I have read that is written in second person, but it made sense with the chapter titles each starting with “How to…”. I quickly fell into step with this choice of point of view and found that it worked well.
June 24, 2024
"But that’s art, Ariel. It’s your gift to the world. People will see what they need to see. Sometimes it will mean to them exactly what it meant to you. Those people are your soul mates."
"How to be the lazy one. It's harder than you think. First, lie on your messy bed wearing your Wonder Woman pajamas that are too small because you’ve had them since you were nine. Then, watch your older sister, Leah, pin up her hair for dance class.... You’re not even sure how she spends so much time at dance and still does well in school. Leah seems to do well at everything. Not you. You’re the lazy one. You’re just trying to keep up, but along with all the other things Leah does, she helps you keep up."
"How to be the lazy one. It's harder than you think. First, lie on your messy bed wearing your Wonder Woman pajamas that are too small because you’ve had them since you were nine. Then, watch your older sister, Leah, pin up her hair for dance class.... You’re not even sure how she spends so much time at dance and still does well in school. Leah seems to do well at everything. Not you. You’re the lazy one. You’re just trying to keep up, but along with all the other things Leah does, she helps you keep up."
September 13, 2021
4.5 Stars
There’s a lot to unpack in How to Find What You’re Not Looking For — religious and racial discrimination, money problems and learning disability — and yet, it all comes together in a cohesive read that is both compelling and thought-provoking.
Everything in Ariel’s life is up in the air. Though her parents are well-meaning, Ariel can’t help but think they’re wrong on a number of issues. Ariel likes her new brother-in-law, and hates that her parents have cut all contact with her sister. The family bakery is Ariel’s second home, but they don’t seem to care. Ariel’s teacher has finally come up with a system that’s helping her excel, but her mother insists Ariel is fine as she is.
Ariel’s situation — the lack of control and desire to change things — is one a lot of readers will see mimicked in their own lives. The circumstances may differ, but the feeling of helplessness is universal. Ariel is a strong character who learns she doesn’t have to go things alone to accomplish them.
Author Veera Hiranandani does a great job introducing historical aspects in smooth and natural ways. She makes tough topics accessible without feeling like they’re “dumbed down.”
How to Find What You’re Not Looking For is a well-paced read that’s equal parts intriguing and heartfelt.
There’s a lot to unpack in How to Find What You’re Not Looking For — religious and racial discrimination, money problems and learning disability — and yet, it all comes together in a cohesive read that is both compelling and thought-provoking.
Everything in Ariel’s life is up in the air. Though her parents are well-meaning, Ariel can’t help but think they’re wrong on a number of issues. Ariel likes her new brother-in-law, and hates that her parents have cut all contact with her sister. The family bakery is Ariel’s second home, but they don’t seem to care. Ariel’s teacher has finally come up with a system that’s helping her excel, but her mother insists Ariel is fine as she is.
Ariel’s situation — the lack of control and desire to change things — is one a lot of readers will see mimicked in their own lives. The circumstances may differ, but the feeling of helplessness is universal. Ariel is a strong character who learns she doesn’t have to go things alone to accomplish them.
Author Veera Hiranandani does a great job introducing historical aspects in smooth and natural ways. She makes tough topics accessible without feeling like they’re “dumbed down.”
How to Find What You’re Not Looking For is a well-paced read that’s equal parts intriguing and heartfelt.
October 26, 2021
Ariel Goldberg's life turns upside down when her 18 year old sister elopes with her boyfriend Raj--not a Jewish man, a dark-skinned Indian man. Their parents (Raj's, too) are beside themselves that their children would turn their backs on culture and tradition. It's 1968, a tumultuous year for race relations. The Loving vs Virginia decision has legalized inter-racial marriage. Martin Luther King is assassinated. It's not easy. Hiranandani deftly presents the dichotomy of antisemitism and white privilege. As well as racist questions that people of color hear everyday. Where are you really from? When are you going home? Fantastic historical fiction with details I remember well--Breck shampoo, tuna casserole (blech!), IBM Selectric typewriters. Well developed characters. I really loved this book. The only thing that I found unsettling was the use of the "second person" narrator. "You go to the store with your sister. She introduces you to her boyfriend, Raj." The writing was better than that, but I couldn't get used to it.
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